Multispeed record player with automatic tone arm weight compensation



Aug. 26, 1952 Q N, FlsHER 2,608,411

A MULTISREED RECORD PLAYER WITH AUTOMATIC TONE f ARM WEIGHT COMPENSATION Filed July 15, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Ag. 26, 1952 N FISHER 2,608,411

B. MULTISPEED RECORD PLAYER WITH' AUTOMATIC TONE ARM WEIGHT COMPENSATION v Filed July l5, 1949 v2 SHEETS`SHEET 2 Arran/715;

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 MuLHsPEEDfREooBD PLAYERWITH Auro Mule.. V'roNaARM WEIGHT coMPENsA. .Troni i BerneNiFshemfRoselle, N. J 1.,1a`ssignor-toGenerali Instrument CorporatiomLElizabeth, .N.-.Jf.`, ancor-f porationrofzNem-.al'ersey Applicationlly15;1949, SeralN'o. 104,946

The, t present` invention relates toAV al l record playerI adapted tomreproducef records rotated-1` at different" A speeds; and "in partici-ilar- Vto`r -suchr a record *pl-ayer in whichr the effective Weight of l the1 reproducing -tone armon those-` records. is l varied automatically- Vvin accordance with the fDi-ferent typesof di-sc records; adaptedfto-'bew rotatedforfreproducing` at differentrspeedsfhavef long-beenrknowni The "standardbtype of records adapted for home-use isHrotated-at 7811?;` Plz-M.

whereas the transcription-"- typei fofY record. used particularly-for the reproductiony-of* radioM vpro-- gramsA isA `adapted*-to--loe -rotated at 33N-RE Pal' 1 Recently, a 33-"`fRf` Pf; irecordi-has beenpniduced4 for home use, as Well as oneladaptedtohefrotated` extremely'` iinewgrooves asv-comparedwithi `theM standard recordandffas aresult require noti only4v` that a 'differenthfstylus be Vused with them than 1 Witlr'the standard recordswbut' that: the1r stylus pressure--exertedvonl the--record beappreciablylower---than is necessary with l standard records- In' orderfwtot accommodate-l the--reproducti`ow `et these various typesotlrecordsgfvariousiexpediente have been proposed;includingfthe-useof Tdi-Herent' brought selectively l'intoA engagementwith the record. One suchlarrangement: isf disclosed `inmy copending application; Seriali-No: 581,645,-ii1ed signee-offtheV present application` The problemoffobtain-ing the properstylus Vpressurey was" solvedlinwthe --saidf copending application byfthe' useof a relief memberwhich,` when' a light stylus4 pressure' `iSv-desired,- bears against the surface -ofJ th-record and relievesl ythe stylusI from carrying thel entire pendulousweight l of the tone `arm.'-`

'Whilei the use-of such a-'dual" pickup'unithas` proved entirely practical; the: "functioning" of the' relieifmemberhaspresented certain problems heavy duty l applications.: derivingy s` from itsrelative fragility; l

Itfihasbeenf, proposed .by others .thatiwhen the multistylusuntisf positionedfind the tone arm"n tcipringi an;- appropriate;stylus;,intomrecordxsene 14a-:claimsv 1 (ci. 12745-95# theproper` stylusA pressurei 4 i 2 l gagingposi-tion; a` linkage "con-nectedf thereto andi@ housed-Within thetone arm itself-l-sh'oul a.' cou-nterhalancing` weight',` -als`o\V housed i t e tone'falrin, so `as to -adapt the tonear-m to ener-tf1 Such! an arrange-F menthas the `disadvantagethat iii-fan eiortyusually@ only partly successful, to keep/thettonee arm light enough-,fi the actuating `link Vmust i also* beiextremely'flight' and; as; a result` fragile?llt'emr iff"tl`1e-\actuatinglinkage doesnotbreak"afterrco l tinued usc-fit deiiriitel'yj tend'sltobend' `or bet-omai distorted and asia result lthe lcouriterlcal'anciiig1-i` eiects of'- tliev m'ovalc'leA Weight varies, sotl-`1`attlie stylus pressureisr ineitherl `constant nor dependy able. When it is realized that the desiredlstyluspressurewis between three'-quarters-l andi one1 Land one-half- 'ounceswhen fstandardf records a-rererri ployed landllbetween fone-quarter and.` "oneelalf-if ounce when non`stand`ard records areemployedlf the significance of! even awslightLmisplacement" of the lcounterbalancingf weightbecomes; apparente Iffthestylus-pressureisatoo -lightelforvla give if' record;'reproduction-willbeiunprecisea thelf'rstyl i Will'tendtoski'p grooves)` and itis entirely-possb ed! thatlthe.: automatic record changing-apparatus might not function. If the sylus"pressure-iisftol greatgthe record willWear-out'-mucliA tooLrapid-ly and reproduction will alsofbedistortedi". 'Since-A the `prime Afeature; insofar `as the1 publie is -concerned, o f ltli'e non-,standardtrecordsisetheir iiolelity` ofi reproductionit would bepointless to y operate them'Witli-\ a` tones.'` arm-which; ldeca'iise exerts# an' iimproper `stylusL pressurefupdn lfV recur-dif-` causes-mom'V distortion in repreductinl* than is the case with standard records. i

Applicant here' disclosesa: recordV player 1W h is, capable .1 of reproducing l alll f three# `types l" ecords; those whichL are lrotatedifa 33,1245ifor 7 3:1 PL" MP.; by: means ofrlfaspecially constructedilj turntablevdiive; in'and 'ofiitself forming noilpa y of the-:present invention-l `whichy canebef control through manipulationz of 1anoperablfeficontroh` memberon .the record player so Aas to-driv`e the f turntable at anyone-ofithosef-lspeedsfdeperidin `upon the particular record reproduction of Whicil sde'siredjhf The tonearmvis provided withj'a inuitiestylusipick-'up inuit-which can be appropriatelyw positioned so4 as to bring-J, ther-proper) stylus into* recor'di-engagi'ngA position. l The novelfatnrezkofii f the. disclosure, insofar as; the-presentapplication K is concerned; :resideslinvthe mechanismi by Whicliffapplicantcontrolssthe stylusfpressure exerted l5 the;L tonezarm l Viewed, broadlwvthecstylus;pres. sure;` is automatically.: coordinatedii with theo iselected, speed: ofiY rotation n off` Lthej: turntabletqxibyffl means of an operative connection between the manually operable speed selecting member and the tone arm itself. This operative connection includes a spring and an overcenter linkage, the spring being active upon the tone armV in accordance with its tension so as to balance or counterbalance the tone arm and thus causeV the stylus pressure to vary. Since said operative connection need not be, and preferably is not, itself carried in the tone arm, it can be of relatively rigid and strong construction so that it will be capable of withstanding long use without impairing its accuracy7 and effectiveness.

A particular problem is presented when, as is here the case, three separateturntable rotation speeds are employed but only two different stylus pressures need be employed. Applicants operative connection between the manually operable control member and the tone arm is particularly adapted, by reason of its design, to perform thekdesired functions ina fool-proof and dependable manner. To this end an overcenter linkage is employed, the linkage assuming an intermediate position having one effect on the tone arm and a pair of extreme positions usually equally spaced from the intermediate position and having the same effect upon the tone arm, which effect is different from tha-t exerted when the linkage is in its intermediate position. The

manuallyl operable control member has three similarly characterizable positions which are effective not only to have the desired effect upon the tone armrbut also to selectA the appropriate turntable rotation speed corresponding to the stylus pressure.

Hence, a single control not only selects the turntable rotation speed but also, automatically, dependably, and with exactitude, determines the pressure which the stylus exerts on the record.

lTo the accomplishment of the foregoing advantages and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the `record player construction as defined in the appended claims and as described in this speciflcation, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which ing pulley engageable with depending rim of the turntable A. This drive is capable of operation at a plurality of speeds, and specifically at low, intermediate, and high speeds, which may cause the turntable to rotate at 33, 45 or 78 R. P. M. re-

' spectively. The drive B includes an actuatable Fig. 1 is a top View of a record player embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end cross-sectional view thereof l taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and j FigS, 3, 4 and 5 are schematic views illustrating the three different positions ofY speed selecting and tone arm counterbalancing mechanisms corresponding to the three speeds of turntable rotation. j

,p Since many of the parts of this record player, such as the means forv supporting the records,

the means for causing automatic record changing, and the particular means employed for driving thev turntable and vfor achieving the desired speed of rotation thereof, form no part of the present invention and may take any of a wide variety of forms without affecting the present invertical axis so as to be movable across the surface of the record on the turntable A for reproduction purposes. vThe tone arm carries at its extremityV a pivotally mounted pickup unit 4 having a plurality of styli 6 and 8, one'of thoseY styli being movable at a time to a stylus-engaging position through manipulation of the button Y l0 projecting from the end of the tone arm. In Fig. 2 the stylus 6 is shown in the stylus-engaging position. The tone arm C and the parts which it carries will have a certain weight, so that a definite pressure is exerted by the lappropriate stylus 6 or 3 upon the top surface of record with.

which it is brought into contact. Since this stylus pressure must differ with different records, j

an adjustable counter-balancing system generally designated D is associated with the tone arm C, the system D being adjustable so as to vary the effective stylus pressure.

An operable control member generally designated E is provided on the frame, that control,

member being movable between three positions corresponding to the three speeds of turntable rotation. VAn operative connection generally designated F is provided between the control.v

member E and the speed selector mechanism which forms a part of the drive B. Another"Y operative connection generally designated G is provided between the control member E and the adjustable counterbalancing system D. As a result, whenever the control member E is positioned corresponding to a desired speed of rotation, the

speed selector mechanism which forms a part of the drive B is appropriately actuated so that the turntable A will rotate at the selected speed, and the adjustable counterbalancing system D is simultaneously and automatically controlledV so that whichever of the styli or 8 in the tone'arm C is in record-engaging position will proper pressure upon the record. Y

In the embodiment here illustrated, the lturn-- table A is rotatable about a central spindle `I2 which has an offset portionY Il at the top thereof, a rotatable button I6 being Ymovable between-a normal position in registration with the spindle l2, so as to support a pile of records thereabove, and a position in registration with the offset portion i4 so as to engage the central aperture of the lowermost record of the stack and move that record so that its central aperture comes into registration With the spindle I2, down Which the record may then fall in order to be reproduced.Y

A three-dimensional cam I8 is rotatably mounted below the base plate 2 and is adapted, during a record changing sequence, to be rotatedrin any appropriate manner, the partial gear 2U thereon being adapted to rotate the button I6, as is well known. The stack of recordstobe reproduced exert the temij so .that the .spring H2 exerts no tension disclosed in Fig. 4, so that here again the. spring 'l5 mitted to exert its full counterbalancing effect H2 is untensioned and the weight 5t is perupon the tone arm C, giving rise to a relatively low stylus pressure.

The operative connection trolmember E and the speed selector mechanism of the drive B is not of the overcenter type and consequently the rod 94 will assumethree different positions relative to the speed selector mechanism corresponding to the three positions of the control member Ef-an intermediate position as shown in Fig. 3 when the memberE is in its intermediate position correspon-ding to 78 R. P. M., a raised position as shown in Fig. 4 when the member E is in its right hand position corresponding to 45 R. P. M., and a lowered position as shown in Fig. 5 when the member El is in its left hand position corresponding to 33 R. P. M.V Hence, the speed selector mechanism in the drive B will be actuated diiTerently for each of the three positions of the control member E, thus giving rise to a selection of one of three turntable speeds as controlled by the member Y SinceV the member E and all of its linkages are supported by the xed portion of the record changer frame, they can be relatively substantial in construction and consequently will not be subject to ready dislocation. The tone arm C is free of all non-essential parts and includes only the pick-up unit 4 and appropriate elecconstructed, the record changer thereby being.

exceedingly efficient and dependable. The employment of an overcenter linkage in the operative connection G between the control mem-v ber E and the counterbalancing system D perf. mits the attainment, in a simple and convenient manner, of twov different stylus pressures. while at the Sametime permitting the selection of one of three turntable speeds.v The control linkages are all positioned in a relatively accessible manner so that replacement and repair is facilitated. Should the spring H2 break., Vit can easily'be replaced and should it weaken after long continued use, it can either be conveniently replacedor, by bending or distorting the spring, it can be caused to once again exert the proper tension on the `counterbalancing systernrD. In the 'embodiment here specifically disclosed, the spring H2 isv untensioned for the 33 and 45 R. P. M. conditions of the record player. This has the vadded advantage that, when 33v and 45 R. P. M.v records are being played, thespring is at restand'consequently the life of the spring is correspondingly extended. y l

It will be apparent that many variations may be made in'the details of the .instantdisclosu-re Cil without departing `from the spirit ofthe inven-j tion as. deiined in the following claims.

I claim: Y

l. A record player comprising a turntable onv which a record is to be placed, a drive operatively connected to said turntable, capable of operation atV a low, intermediate, or high speed, as selected, and including a speed selectorfmechanism, a tone arm movable over the recordon thefturntableior reproducing the same, an adjustableA counterbalancing systemoperativelyconnected to vsaid .tone arm and operable to cause its effective weight on the record to assume one of two values, a manually actuatable handle remote from said turntable operatively connected to saidspeed selector mechanism and movable to one of three positions soV as to select a given speed of operation of the turntable, anda me-v chanical linkage between saidhandle and said adjustable counterbalancing system operable to cause the effective weight of ,the tone arm .on the record .to assume one value for the low and intermediate speeds of operation of the turntable and another value for the high speed of operation of the turntable.

2. A recordplayer comprisinga turntable on which a record is to be placed, a drive operatively selector mechanism and movable to one of threepositions so as to select a given speed of opera-- tion of the turntable, and a mechanical linkage between said handle and said adjustable counterbalancing system operable to cause the effective weight of the tone arm on the record toV assume the lower value for the low and intermediate speeds of operation of the'turntable and the higher value for the high speed of operation of the turntable. y

3. A record player comprising a turntable on which a record is to be placed, a drive operatively connected to said turntable, capable 'of operation U at a low, intermediate or high speed, as selected;

and including a speed selector mechanism, a'tone arm movable over the record on the turntable for reproducing the same, an adjustable counter` b balancing lsystem 'operatively connected tov 'saidtone arm and operable to causeits eiiective weight on the recordto assume one Vof two values, a manually actuatable handle remote from said turntable operatively connected to said turntable j drive andinovable to one of three positionsV so ""as'to select a given speed of operation of the turntable, and a mechanical linkage including an overcenter linkage betweensaid handle and said adjustable counterbalancing system and operable to cause-the eiective weight of the tone arm on the .record to assume one value for the low and intermediate .speeds ofv operation ofV the turntable and another value for the .high speed of operation of the turntable.

4. A record player comprising a turntable on for reproducing the same, an adjustable counterbalancing system operatively connected to said tone arm and operable to cause its effective weight on the record to assume one of two values, a manually actuatable handle remote from said turntable operatively connected to said speed selector mechanism and movable to one of three positions so as to select a given speed of operation of the turntable, and a mechanical linkage including an overcenter linkage between said handle and said adjustable counterbalancing system and operable to cause the effective weight of the tone arm on the record to assume the lower value for the low and intermediate speeds of operation of the turntable and the higher value for the high speed of operation of the turntable.

5. The record player of claim 1, in which the position of the handle corresponding to the high speed of operation of the turntable is between its positions for the low and intermediate speeds oi operation thereof.

6. The record player of claim 3, in which the position of the handle corresponding to the high speed of operation of the turntable is between its positions for the low and intermediate speeds oi' operation thereof.

7. A record player comprising a frame, a tone armv mounted thereon to pivot toward and away from a record about an axis, an operable control member movably mounted on said frame, and an operative connection including an overcenter linkage between said control member and said tone arm and connected to said tone arm at a point displaced from said axis, said connection also including a spring constantly connected to said tone arm, said control member being movable between three positions, said overcenter linkage being so connected to said control that said spring is tensioned differently when said control member is in its intermediate position than when it is in either of its extreme positions, said spring being tensioned the same amount when said control member is in either of its extreme positions, thereby causing the effective weight of said tone arm at a point remote from said axis to vary.

8. A record player comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon to pivot toward and away from a record about an axis, an operable control member movably mounted on said frame, and an operative connection including an overcenter linkage between said control member and said tone arm and connected to said tone arm at a point displaced from said axis, said connection also including a spring constantly connected to said tone arm, said control member being movable between three positions, said overcenter linkage being so connected to said control member that said spring is tensioned more when said control member is in its intermediate position than when it is in either of its extreme positions, thereby causing the eiective weight oi said tone arm at a point remote from said axis to vary.

9. A record player comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon to pivot toward and away from a record about an axis, an operable control member movably mounted on said frame, and an operative connection including an overcenter linkage between said control member and said tone arm and connected to said tone arm at a point displaced from said axis, said connection also including a spring constantly connected to said tone arm, said control member being movable between three positions, said overcenter linkage being so connected to said control member that said spring is substantially untensioned when said control member is in either of its extreme positions and is tensioned when said control member is in its intermediate position, thereby causing the effective weight of said tone arm at a point remote from said axis to vary.

10. A record player comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon to pivot toward and away from a record about an axis, an operable control member movably mounted on said frame, an overcenter linkage operatively connected to said control member and having a portion to which one end of a spring is secured, the other end of said spring being constantly operatively connected to said tone arm at a point displaced from said axis, said control member being movable between an intermediate and two extreme positions, said linkage being movable thereby so that said portion is spaced at one distance from said tone arm when said control member is in its intermediate position and at another distance from said tone arm when said control member is in either of its two extreme positions, said distance being the same when said control member is in either of its two extreme positions, thus varying the tension of said spring and thereby causing the effective weight of said tone arm at a point remote from said `axis to vary.

11. A record player comprising a frame, a tone arm mounted thereon to pivot toward and away from a record about an axis, an operable control member movably mounted on said frame, an overcenter linkage operatively connected to said control member and having a portion to which one end of a spring is secured, the other end of said spring being constantly operatively connected to said tone arm at a point displaced from' said axis, said control member being movable between an intermediate and two extreme positions, said linkage being movable thereby so that said portion is spaced relatively close to said tone arm when said control member is in its intermediate position and relatively remote from said tone arm when said control member Y is in either of its two extreme positions, thus varying the tension of said spring and thereby causing the effective weight of said tone arm at a point remote from said axis to vary.

12. In the record player of claim 8, a turntable on which a record is to be placed, rotatably mounted on said frame, a drive operativelyI connected to said turntable, capable of operation at a low, intermediate, or high speed, as selected, and including a speed selector mechanism, and an operative connection between said control member and said speed selector mechanism for selecting the speed of operation of said turntable in accordance with the position of said control member, the intermediate position of said control member corresponding to the high speed of operation of said turntable.

BERNE N. FISI-IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,069,136 Durand et al Jan. 26, 1937 2,113,401 Goldsmith Apr. 5, 1938 2,320,572 Dann June 1, 1943 2,526,188 Andres Oct. 17, 1950 

